Stack valve assemblies with interchangeable components



Y- 1965 J. E. BASS, JR., ETAL 3,215,158

STACK VALVE ASSEMBLIES WITH INTERCHANGEABLE COMPONENTS Filed Oct. 9.1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS JOHN E. BAS J2.

and HARMON L. SHAW Z1 9 BY mmm+w ATTORNEYS Nov. 2, 1965 J. E. BASS, JR.,ETAL STACK VALVE ASSEMBLIES WITH INTERCHANGEABLE COMPONENTS Filed 001;.9, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 MJ N mam 2 V A 1 P: flit/ b.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. E. BASS, JR., ETAL STACK VALVE ASSEMBLIES WITHINTERCHANGEABLE COMPONENTS Filed Oct. 9, 1963 Nov. 2, 1965 INVENTORS:JOHN E:. BAss Jwz. and HARMON L. SHAW BY fnfi fidfifi d'w ATTOENE Y5Nov. 2, 1965 J. E. BASS, JR, ETAL 3,215,158

STACK VALVE ASSEMBLIES WITH INTERCHANGEABLE COMPONENTS Filed Oct. 9,1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS JOHN E. BA55,J12. and HARMON L. S W

ATTORNEYS Nov. 2, 1965 J. E. BASS, JR, ETAL 3,215,158

STACK VALVE ASSEMBLIES WITH INTERCHANGEABLE COMPONENTS Filed Oct. 9,1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 50 2 i [Egg Q O 5% 25% 12%| L I 7 Z5 INVENTORSI 0LHN E. BAss,IE.

I220 Qm/HARMON L. sHAw A TTOPNE Y5 United States Patent Oflice 3,215,158Patented Nov. 2, 1965 STACK VALVE ASSEMBLIES WITH INTER- CHANGEABLECOMPONENTS John E. Bass, Jr., and Harmon L. Shaw, Charlotte, N.C.,

assignors to Perfecting Service Company, Charlotte, N.C., a corporationof North Carolina Filed Oct. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 315,017

3 Claims. (Cl. 137-269) This invention relates to slide valves of thetype characterized by axially movable pistons or valve cores, the axialshifting of which elfects a change in the direction of flow of a fluidmedium therethrough.

Many different types of slide valves have been devised heretofore whichhave included many parts which had to be assembled at the site of usethereof. During such assembling, care had to be taken to ascertain theintended relative positions of the parts so they could be securedtogether and would function properly. Also, the prior types of slidevalves have been devised for specific purposes and for operation byindividual specific means.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved universalinterchangeable slide valve assembly which has greater flexibility ofuse and is more readily commercially produced and assembled at its siteof use than known prior art types of slide valve assemblies and whichmay be used individually or may be readily stacked in juxtaposedrelation with like assemblies.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a slide valveassembly of the type described comprising an elongate base adapted tohave any fluid-conveying conduits of a fluid system attached thereto andwherein a valve body is secured to the base and is arranged to controlthe flow of fluid through the base, there being variousintercommunicating passageways in the body and the base which aresymmetrically arranged in such a manner that the body may extend ineither longitudinal direction relative to and parallel to the base andcooperating passageways will still be communicatively alined.symmetrically located fastener-receiving holes are also provided in thebase and the valve body, for the recep-- tion of screws therein, forsecuring the base and body together and facilitating interchangeabilityof the valve body with other like valve bodies.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a universalinterchangeable valve assembly of the type described with a plurality ofditferent types of valveoperating units adapted to be interchangeablysecured to each end of the elongate valve body and wherein the differentvalve-operating units include means for shifting the valve corelongitudinally within the elongate valve body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve assembly of thecharacter described in which the width of the base is at least equal toor greater than the width of the valve body and in which ports extendtransversely through the base to permit stacking the valve assembly injuxtaposed parallel relation with like valve assemblies.

The valve assembly of this invention is particularly evised for ease ofmaintenance, and quick and convenient modular replacement. The quickreplacement of any malfunctioning subassemblies with like, properlyfunctioning, subassemblies in accordance with this invention is a veryimportant factor in automation. Heretofore, there have been instances inwhich an entire as sembly line used in producing a given product had tobe shut down for a considerable period of time during the replacement ofmalfunctioning parts of a valve assembly or during replacement of acomplete valve assembly. On the other hand, the various subassemblies ofthe valve assembly of this invention may be replaced easily and quickly;with very nearly the facility of plugging an electrical plug into thesocket of an electrical receptacle, and within a fraction of the timewhich would be required to replace an entire valve assembly ofconventional construction or to replace individual worn or damaged partsthereof, thus greatly contributing to economy of production in anassembly line.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of abank or stack of valve assemblies embodying a first form of theinvention;

FIGURE 1A is a top plan view of one of the symmetrical valve bodiesshowing the fastener-receiving holes therein for the reception of screwsto secure the same to a corresponding base;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially along line 2-2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through one of thevalve assemblies taken substantially along line 33 in FIGURE 2 andshowing details of two types of valve-operating units connected toopposite ends of the valve body;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially along line 4-4 in FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of one of the spacer elements or cagespositioned in the longitudinal bore of the valve body of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the valve base upon which the valve bodyis mounted in FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 7 and 8 (Sheet 4) are views of one end of one of thevalve-operating units and the corresponding end of the valve body takensubstantially along the respective lines 7-7 and 88 in FIGURE 3 andshowing the arrangement of the fastener-receiving or screw holestherein;

FIGURE 9 (Sheet 3) is a partially exploded perspective view of a secondform of valve assembly according to the present invention having adifierent type of base from that of the first form of the inventionshown in FIGURES 1-6, and showing two other types of valveoperatingunits in association therewith;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of the valve base shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURES 11 through 11F (Sheet 4) and 12 through 12E (Sheet 5) arelongitudinal vertical sectional views of other types of valve-operatingunits which may be interchangeably connected to either end of the valvebody in place of the valve-operating units shown in FIGURE 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the first embodiment of theinvention shown in FIGURES 18 includes a stack or bank of slide valveassemblies, each of which is shown as being of the same construction,although they may differ from each other in some respects as will belater explained. In this instance, there are four valve assemblies shownin FIGURES 1 and 2, indicated at A, A A A and only one of which will bedescribed in detail, with like parts of each assembly being providedwith the same reference characters, where applicable, to avoidrepetitive description.

Essentially, each valve assembly A-A comprises an elongate valve body orhousing 20, an elongate complementary base or block 21, a primaryvalve-operating control unit 22, and an auxiliary valve-operating unit23. The valve body 20 is of elongate symmetrical construction and has alongitudinally extending bore 24 therein within which a spool valve coreor piston 25 is mounted for longitudinal or axial sliding movement bymeans of a plurality of resilient O-rings a (FIGURE 3) which are held inspaced relationship by a plurality of spacing elements or cages barranged in axial alinement. As shown in FIGURE 5, each cage is of openconstruction; i.e., each spacing element b includes a pair of endflanges or rings 26 which are interconnected by ribs or bars 27 ofrelatively small cross-sectional area. The spacer elements b may be castor molded from a suitable plastic material, if desired.

Opposed ends of valve bore 24 are partially closed by plates 30, 31which bear against the corresponding endmost O-rings a and which areslidably penetrated by valve core 25. Plates 30, 31 are held againstopposed ends of valve body 20 by the corresponding operating units 22,23.

The O-rings a and the flanges 26 of the spacer elements b divide thelongitudinal valve bore 24 into five chambers c-g. The valve core 25 isprovided with a pair of spaced reduced neck portions 32, 33 which are sospaced and which are of such length relative to the axial length ofchambers c-g that each of them establishes communication between anadjacent pair of said chambers when valve core occupies one extremeposition or another extreme position in the opposite direction. When thevalve core 25 occupies an intermediate or neutral position, it preventscommunication between any two of the adjacent chambers cg.

From the standpoint of economy of production of the valve assembly aswell as from a standpoint of assembly both at the time of manufacture ofthe valve assemblies and at the time of partial assembly or installationthereof at the site at which the valve assembly or assemblies are to beused, it is an important feature of the present invention to provide thevalve body 20 and the valve base 21 with passageways which are arrangedsymmetrically with respect to a first line extending transversely of andlocated halfway between longitudinally opposed ends of the valve body aswell as with respect to a second line extending longitudinally of thevalve body. This not only insures that valve bodies and bases, such as20 and 21, may be manufactured identically as is desirable in themanufacture of any production item, but it facilitates theinterchangeability of different valve bodies with different bases andpermits the assembly of the valve body 20 with the valve base 21regardless of which direction the valve body 20 may extendlongitudinally with respect to the base 21. Also, in order to furtherfacilitate the attachment of the valve body 20 to the base 21 and tofacilitate stacking any desired number of the valve assemblies injuxtaposed side-by-side relationship, the elongate valve body 20 has atransverse width no greater than the width of the base.

The symmetrically arranged radial passageways in the valve body 20 ofFIGURE 3 are indicated at c'-g' and their upper ends communicate withthe respective chambers cg formed in the longitudinally extending bore24. The passageways c'g extend downwardly to the flat bottom surface ofthe valve body 20 and are suitably enlarged for receiving thereincorresponding resilient O-ring portions 35 of a cast or molded resilientgasket 36 of the present invention and upon which the valve body 20 ispositioned. Each O-ring portion defines a hole 37 through gasket 36, asshown in FIGURE 9. It is to be understood that conventional types ofresilient O-rings may be substituted for the gasket, if desired.

In this instance, the centermost radial passageway e is located halfwaybetween longitudinally opposed ends of valve body 20. The passageways d,f, and passageways c, g, are located equidistantly, respectively, fromopposed sides of the passageway e so that the passageways c'g' arelongitudinally spaced symmetrically with respect to a line halfwaybetween longitudinally opposed ends of the valve body 20.

The base 21 of FIGURE 3 also has a plurality of vertically extendingpassageways c"g" extending downwardly from the flat upper surfacethereof and which register 4 with the respective passageways c'g in thebottom of valve body 20.

Each valve body 20 is constructed so as to be used interchangeably witheach base 21, and the valve bodies 20 are also constructed so each ofthem-may be used interchangeably with a base of the type indicated at2111 in association with the valve assembly B shown in FIG- URE 9. Sincethe valve body and the valve core associated with the second form of theinvention in FIGURE 9 are substantially the same as the valve bodies 20and valve cores 25 in FIGURES 1-5 and 7, the valve body and core inFIGURE 9 shall bear the same reference characters, where applicable, asare applied to the valve bodies and valve cores in FIGURES 1-5 and 7.

The base 21a shown in FIGURES 9 and 10 is interchangeable with any oneof the bases 21. Therefore, base 21 may be termed as a primary base andbase 21a may be termed as an auxiliary base. The primary bases 21(FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 are particularly devised to accommodate thestacking of two or more of the valve assemblies, such as A through A inside-by-side juxtaposed relation, so as to control the flow of fluidfrom a common source to two or more independent fluidoperated devices.On the other hand, the auxiliary base 21a (FIGURES 9 and 10) isparticularly devised for use in instances in which only a single valveassembly is required. Thus, as much of the description as has alreadybeen given for the primary base 21 also applies to the auxiliary base21a and those elements of the base 21a which are identical to elementsof the base 21 shall bear the same reference characters with the prefix2 added, for purposes of comparison and to avoid repetitive description.

As best shown in FIGURES 3 and 6, the primary base 21 also is providedwith three laterally extending fluid conducting or conveying ports 41,42 and 43 which extend all the way through the base 21 and whose medialportions communicate with the respective passageways c", e", g". Forpurposes of description only, the transverse ports 41, 43 may be termedas exhaust ports and port 42 may be termed as a supply port. It shouldbe noted that the axes of passageways e" and port 42 intersect eachother and the axes of the ports 41, 42 are spaced equidistantly fromopposed sides of the axis of the centrally located port 42.Corresponding ends of all the ports 41-43 are internally threaded ortapped, as at 44, 45, 46, so that corresponding ends of pipes orconduits may be threadedly connected thereto. All the ports 4.1-43 arespaced the same distance below the flat upper surface of base 21.

In this instance, a fluid inlet conduit or pipe 50 has its coupling 51threaded into the threaded portion 45 of the port 42 of that base 21associated with the valve assembly A in FIGURE 1. The ports 41, 43simply serve as exhaust ports, in alternation, when the apparatus isused for controlling the flow of air. Of course, if the apparatus is tobe used for controlling the flow of liquid, the threaded ends 44, 46 ofthe base 21 associated with valve assembly A may have suitable fluidreturn conduits, not shown, threadedly connected thereto.

Although the lower ends of passageways c, e", g" terminate at theirjuncture with the transverse ports 41, 42, 43, it will be observed inFIGURE 3 that the passageways d", f extend all the way through the blockor base 21 and have their lower portions threaded or tapped, as at 52,53, for the reception of the threaded upper ends or fittings of acorresponding pair of service conduits 54, 55. The threaded lowerportions 52, 53 of the vertical passageways d", 1 may be termed asservice ports. Two of the service conduits 54, 55 are connected to andextend downwardly from each of the bases 21 of assemblies A-A in thesame manner as that shown in FIGURE 3, and each pair of conduits 54, 55may be connected to a separate fluid-operated device, such as adouble-acting 0r single-acting cylinder, a hydraulic motor, an airmotor, or

the like. One of the service conduits 54, 55 may be omitted if thefluid-operated device is in the form of a single-acting cylinder.

Opposed end portions of each base 21 are provided with transverseconnector holes 56, 57 therethrough (FIGURES 3 and 6) which are alsospaced equidistantly from the transverse center line of the fluidconveying port 42 to facilitate interconnecting a plurality of the bases21 in side-by-side juxtaposed relation as shown in FIGURE 2. It will beobserved in FIGURE 2 that, when a plurality of the bases 21 are disposedin side-by-side juxtaposed relation, the corresponding connector holes56, 57 have a series of connector shafts therein, each of which isindicated at 58 and each of which is of a length no greater than, andpreferably less than, the width of each base 21. It is apparent that allthe connector holes 56, 57 are spaced the same distance below the flatupper surface of base 21. Since all the bases 21 have their fluidconveying ports 41-43 threaded at one end only thereof, the bases 21associated with the assemblies A, A A have the threaded ends of all thefluid conveying ports 41, 42, 43 thereof facing in the same direction.However, the endmost base 21 opposite from the inlet conduit 50 isturned end-for-end with respect to the remaining bases 21 so that bothends of the stack or bank of valve assemblies A-A will have threadedportions 44-46 of the transverse fluid conveying ports 41-43 exposed forreception of the threaded ends of corresponding conduits or for thereception of suitable threaded plugs, such as the plug 59 shown inFIGURE 4, as desired. It should be noted that the plug 59 of FIGURE 4closes that end of the port 42 of the base 21 associated with valveassembly A opposite from that end of the port 42 of the base 21 of valveassembly A to which the conduit 50 is connected. Thus, conduit 50 thencommunicates with all the cen trally located passageways e in all thebases 21 (FIG- URE 3).

Now, since the base 21 of assembly A is turned endfor-end with respectto the bases 21 of the assemblies A, A A it will be observed in FIGURE 2that the connecting hole 56 of the base 21 of valve assembly A is alinedwith the connector holes 57 in the remaining bases 21. This is onereason why it is important that each base 21 is formed symmetrically orthat at least the passageways, holes and/ or ports therein are formedsymmetrically with respect to a given transverse line about midway ofthe length of each base 21 and with respect to a longitudinal linecorresponding substantially to, and extending parallel with, the axis ofthe valve core 25 thereabove.

All of the connector holes 56, 57 in the bases 21 should be ofsubstantially the same diameter so that all the connector shafts 58 mayalso be of substantially the same diameter so as to be slidably receivedin the corresponding holes 56, 57. Each of the connector shafts has aninternally threaded bore 58a in one end thereof (FIG- URE 2) and areduced externally threaded portion 58b on the other end thereof so thatadjacent ends of adjacent shafts 58 are interconnected by threading theexternally threaded portion of each shaft 58 into the internallythreaded bore 58a of any adjacent shaft 58 immediately adjacent thesame. Of course, one of the endmost shafts 58 then has its externallythreaded portion 58b extending outwardly beyond the outer surface of thecorresponding base 21 while the shaft 58 at the other end of thecorresponding series has its internally threaded bore 58a exposedadjacent the outer surface of the opposite base 21.

Accordingly, one of the two endmost shafts 58 (FIG- URE 2) has a nut Nthreaded thereon and engaging the outer surface of the correspondingadjacent outermost base 21 and being threaded onto the correspondingreduced threaded portion 58b. The other endmost shaft 58 has a screw Sthreaded thereinto and engaging the outer surface of that base 21 whichis most remote from the outer surface of the base 21 engaged by the nutN, thus securely fastening all of the bases and the remaining portionsof the corresponding assemblies A, A together.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that, when several of thebases 21 are secured together in the aforesaid manner, all thetransverse ports 41 are in alinement with each other, all of thetransverse ports 42 are in alinement with each other, and all of thetransverse ports 43 are in alinement with each other so that, in eflect,three composite ports or channels are formed throughout the group ofvalve assemblies. If the fluid medium to be controlled by the valveassemblies A-A is air, both ends of the passageways formed by therespective series of ports 41, 43 may remain open. However, if the fluidmedium is liquid or may not be exhausted into the atmosphere, either endof each of the composite passageways formed by the alined transverseports 41, 43 may be closed by a plug similar to the plug 59 and theother end thereof may have a return line connected thereto in the mannerheretofore described. In the latter instance, base 21 of assembly A maybe turned end-for-end relative to the other bases 21.

In either event, in order to prevent the leakage of fluid between theadjacent bases 21 at the junctures of adjacent transverse ports 41, 42,43, a resilient O-ring 70 is provided between each adjacent pair ofbases 21 at the juncture of each adjacent pair of transverse ports41-43. It will be observed in FIGURES 4 and 6 that a shallow circularrecess 70a is formed in the side of each base 21 opposite from that sidewhich has the threaded portions 44-46 therein and which is substantiallyconcentric with each of the transverse ports 41-43. The depth of eachrecess 70a should be less than half the thickness of the correspondingO-ring 70 so as to provide an effective seal between adjacent bases 21at the adjacent transverse ports 41-43. When base 21 of assembly A isturned end-forend relative to the other bases (FIGURE 4), it is apparentthat two O-rings 70, or a double-thickness O-ring, may be provided inthe recesses 70a then facing each other.

As heretofore stated, when only a single valve assembly is required, theauxiliary base 21a (FIGURES 9 and 10) is substituted for a correspondingbase 21. The auxiliary base 21a differs from the first form 21 in thatthe various ports which are adapted to have fluid conveying conduitsconnected thereto do not extend all the way through the base 21a as isthe case with respect to the ports 41-43 of each base 21 (FIGURES 1, 2,3, 4 and 6).

As best shown in FIGURE 10, one side of auxiliary base 21a is providedwith three internally threaded transverse ports 44a, 45a, 46a which areof suflicient depth only to insure that they properly communicate withthe respective passageways 20'', 2e", 2g". The other side of auxiliarybase 21a is provided with two internally threaded transverse ports 52a,53a which are also of suflicient depth only to insure that they properlycommunicate with the respective passageways 2d", 2f". It should be notedthat none of the ports 44a-46a, 52a, 53a extend entirely through theauxiliary base 21a and none of them communicate with others of thetransverse ports in base 21a.

When the auxiliary base 21a is used in place of any one of the bases 21,the two service conduits 54, 55 may be connected to the ports 52a, 53aand the fluid inlet conduit 50 may be connected to the centrally locatedport 45a so that either of the bases 21, 21a may be used interchangeablywith any one of the valve bodies 20.

It is important to note that the ports 44a, 45a, 46a, 52a, 53a arearranged in symmetrical relationship with respect to a transverse lineapproximately halfway between opposite ends of base 21a; i.e., the port45a is located at a point substantially halfway between opposed ends ofauxiliary base 21a, the ports 52a, 53a are located equidistantly eitherside of the axis of the port 45a and the ports 44a, 46a are also locatedequidistantly from opposed sides of the port 45a, but are spaced furtherapart than the ports 52a, 53a.

In order to facilitate securing each valve body 20 to either base 21 or21a, opposed side portions of each valve body 20 are provided with aplurality of equally spaced symmetrically arranged fastener-receivingholes (FIG- URE 1A), the fastener-receiving holes being arranged in rowswhich straddle the longitudinal bore 24- (FIGURE 3) through each valvebody 20. In this instance, three fastener-receiving holes are providedin each row adjacent each side of the valve body 20, the holes in onesuch row being indicated at 61, 62, 63 and the holes in the other rowbeing indicated at 64, 65, 66. The centermost holes 62, 65 in each valvebody 20 are located at a point halfway between longitudinally opposedends of body 20.

The holes 61, 63 are transversely alined with respect to the holes 64,66, but the distance between the holes 61, 63 and 64, 66 is greater thanthe maximum diameter of the central ports 45, 45a in the respectivebases 21, 21a and the distal edges thereof are spaced closer togetherthan the distance between the proximal surfaces of the ports 44, 46 and44a, 46a of the bases 21, 21a. The fastener-receiving holes 61-66 arealso spaced equidistantly from a line extending longitudinally of thebody 20 (FIG- URES 1A and 9).

The fastener-receiving holes 61-66 in each body 20 are arranged in theaforesaid manner so as to insure that each valve body may be fastened toeither base 21 or 21a at a plurality of points so as to insure a tightseal between each valve body and the corresponding base. In thisconnection, it will be noted that the gasket 36 is also provided withtwo rows of fastener-receiving holes, each row of which includes threeholes which are spaced so as to register with the holes 61-66 in eachvalve body 20. The holes in the gasket 36 corresponding to the holes61-66 in valve body 20 are indicated at 71-76, respectively, in FIGURE9.

It is apparent that the gasket 36 may be positioned in eitherlongitudinal direction with respect to the corresponding valve body 20,since the holes 71-76 therein are symmetrically arranged. In otherwords, the holes 74-76 may be alined with the respective holes 63, 62,61 and the holes 71-73 may be alined with the respective holes 66, 65,64 with equal facility. Referring to FIG- URE 6, it will be observedthat the primary base 21 has four internally threaded fastener-receivingholes 81, 83, 84, 86 therein symmetrically arranged so they may registerwith the respective holes 61, 63, 64, 66 in the corresponding valve body20 or they may register with the respective holes 66, 64, 63, 61 withequal facility so that fasteners in the form of screws 87 (FIGURE 1) maybe inserted through the holes 61, 63, 64, 66 in body 20 and holes 71,73, 74, 76 in gasket 36 and threaded into the corresponding holes 81,83, 84, 86 in a corresponding primary base 21 for securing each valvebody 20 to the first form of valve base 21.

Referring to FIGURE 10, it will be observed that the second form ofvalve base 21a also has internally threaded fastener-receiving holes81a, 83a, 85a therein symmetrically arranged with respect to the row ofpassages 2c-2g" and spaced so as to register with either the three holes61, 63, 65 or the three holes 64, 66, 62 in the corresponding valve body20, depending upon which longitudinal direction the valve body 20 may bepositioned on the base 21a. Of course, once a valve body is positionedupon auxiliary valve base 21a, suitable screws, identical to the screws87 in FIGURE 1, for example, may be positioned in the correspondingholes 61, 63, 65, or 64, 66, 62, as the case may be, and incorresponding holes in gasket 36, and their ends may be threaded intothe corresponding holes 81a, 83a, 85a in base 21a.

It is thus seen that all the valve bodies 20, the gaskets 36, and thebases 21, 21a may be used interchangeably in forming multiple or singlevalve assemblies. Opposed ends of both bases 21, 21a are each providedwith a pair of vertically spaced internally threaded holes 88 (FIG- URES3, 6, 9 and '10) to accommodate securing to either end of either base 21or 21a a form of primary valveoperating control unit to be laterdescribed. Each end of each valve body 20 is provided with a pair ofdiagonally opposed internally threaded holes 90, 91 therein which arespaced equidistantly from the axis of the corresponding valve core 25.

Holes 90, 91 are provided to facilitate interchangeably securing varioustypes of valve-operating units, including a portion of theaforementioned primary valve-operating unit mentioned heretofore, toeither or both ends of each valve body 20. There are many differenttypes of valveoperating units to be later described which may beconnected to opposed ends of the valve bodies 20, depending upon thepurpose for which the resultant valve assemblies are to be used.

The primary and auxiliary valve-operating units shown connected toopposed ends of the valve body 20 in FIG- URES l, 2 and 3 will now bedescribed.

Each primary valve-operating control unit 22 comprises two casings 99,of built-up construction. The lower casing 99 serves an an electricalwire terminal box and is secured to one end of the corresponding base 21by means of a pair of screws 101 threaded into the corresponding pair ofholes 88. Casing 100 is a composite control casing secured to one end ofthe corresponding valve body 20 as by screws 102, only one of which isshown in FIGURE 1 (see FIGURE 2), and which are, of course, threadedinto the corresponding holes 90, 91 (FIGURE 7) in one end of the body ofassembly A.

The upper outer portion of each casing 100 (FIGURE 3) has a solenoidcoil 103 therein to opposed ends of which electrical conductors 104 areconnected through the medium of an electrical connector 105 fixed in theupper wall of casing 99. The conductors 104 associated with the coil 103of each primary valve-operating unit 22 may be connected to a source ofelectrical energy through a separate switch means, not shown, asdesired.

The coil 103 surrounds a tubular exhaust valve 106 and a portion of asolenoid plunger 107 normally biased away from valve 106 and toward aninlet valve or orifice 110 by a compression spring 111. Each valve body20 has a longitudinally extending channel 112 in its upper portion whoseopposed ends are preferably provided with small screens or filters 113therein and whose central portion communicates with the chamber ethrough the medium of a radial passage 114. In FIGURE 3, channel 112 isshown alined with a passage 116 in the control casing 100 ofvalve-operating unit 22. Passage 116 communicates with an annularchamber 117 formed in each casing 100 (FIGURE 2). Annular passage 117also communicates with a port 118 which opens at valve 110.

Valve 110 opens into a chamber 121 within which one end of solenoidplunger 107 and its spring 111 are positioned. Chamber 121 communicateswith a cylindrical chamber or cylinder 122 by means of a passage 123.Cylindrical chamber 122 has a piston 124 therein which carries anannular seal or O-ring 125 for engaging the inner surface of cylindricalchamber 122. Piston 124 bears against and need not be secured to orformed integral with the corresponding end of valve core 25.

The other end of valve core 25 in FIGURE 3 has a disk 127 suitablysecured thereto, as by a screw 130. Disk 127 is a part of the auxiliaryvalve-operating unit 23, the housing of which is indicated at 131 and isof cup-shaped form. Housing 131 (FIGURES 1, 3 and 8) includes an endwall 132 and is secured to the corresponding end of the correspondingvalve body 20 by a pair of screws which extend through holes 90, 91alined with the respective threaded holes 90, 91 (FIGURE 7) in the endof valve body 20. The housing 131 of each auxiliary valveoperating unit23 (FIGURES 1 and 3) has a cavity 133 therein within which a compressionspring 134 is positioned. One end of compression spring 134 bearsagainst disk 127 and the other end of compression spring 134 bearsagainst the outer end wall 132 of the housing 131.

The method of operation of the assembly A of FIG- URE 3 will now begiven assuming that the supply conduit 50 is connected to a source ofcompressed air, not shown, and the service conduits are connected toopposed ends of a double-acting cylinder, for example. When the partsoccupy the position shown in FIGURE 3, compressed air flows into thelateral port 42 of base 21 in FIGURE 3 from conduit 50 and then flowsupwardly through passageways e", e and into chamber e. Compressed airthen flows past the neck portion 32 of valve core 25, into chamber d,and through the vertical passageways d, d" into service conduit 54. Atthe same time, compressed air is returned from the double-actingcylinder, not shown, through conduit 55, passageways f", f, chambers f,g, through passageways g, g and is thus exhausted through lateral port43.

Upon energization of the coil 103 of primary valveoperating unit 22,plunger 107 moves out of engagement with valve 110 and into engagementwith valve 106 (FIG- URE 3) to prevent air from being exhausted throughvalve 106 as it opens valve 110. In so doing, this permits compressedair to flow from lateral port 42, through the alined passageways e", e,through chamber e, through radial passageway 114, through channel 112,through passages 116, 117, 118 and through valve 110 into the chamber121. Compressed air then flows from the chamber 121 through passage 123and into cylindrical chamber 122 adjacent the outer surface of piston124.

This causes piston 124 and valve core 25 to move from right to left inFIGURE 3 in opposition to compression spring 134 so that the neckportions 32, 33 then communicate with the respective chambers c, d ande, respectively. It is apparent that this reverses the direction of flowof the compressed air through the service conduits 54, 55 sincecompressed air enters the chamber e of the valve assembly A in FIGURE 3in the manner heretofore described, then fiows from chamber e intochamber 1 and through passageways f, f" to the service conduit 55 ascompressed air is exhausted from service conduit 54 through passagewaysd, d, chamber d, c,

passageways c. c and the lateral .port 41.

When coil 103 is subsequently deenergized, spring 111 moves solenoidplunger 107 against valve 110 and opens valve 106 so that compressed airmay be exhausted through valve 106 and is prevented from enteringchamber 121 through valve 110. Thus, compression spring 134 then movesthe valve core 25 from left to right to the position in which it isshown in FIGURE 3 as air to the right of piston 124 is exhausted throughpassage 123, chamber 121, through the central portion of coil 103 andthrough valve 106 to the atmosphere. It is apparent that each of thevalve assemblies A A A may be operated in the same manner as that justdescribed for the valve assembly A.

In the event that it is desired to manually operate any one or more ofthe primary valve-operating units 22, the composite casing 100 isprovided with a manually operable plunger 136 (FIGURES 2 and 3), one endof which projects outwardly from casing 100 and the other end of whichis enlarged and is normally spaced from the corresponding end ofsolenoid plunger 107. Thus, in order to manually operate the primaryvalve-operating control unit 22 shown in FIGURE 3, an operator merelydepresses plunger 136 and moves the same against solenoid plunger 107,thus moving plunger 107 out of engagement with the open end of valve 110and into engagement with the corresponding open end of valve 106.

The valve core 25 will then be operated in the same manner as was thecase when the solenoid coil 103 was energized. Of course, chamber 121 isso formed that plunger 136 will not close the upper end of passage 123when it is moved inwardly against solenoid plunger 107. As soon as theoperator releases plunger 136, spring 111 will again return solenoidplunger 107 to the position shown in FIGURE 3 and the pressure thenexistent in chamber 121 will return manually operable plunger 136 to theposition shown in FIGURE 3.

In FIGURES 11 through 11F and 12 through 12E, there are shown varioustypes of valve-operating units 23a-23g and 22a-22f which may be usedinterchangeably and in various combinations in place of thevalveoperating units 22, 23 shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. Thevalve-operating units shown in FIGURES 12 through 12E may each be usedas a control unit in place of the primary valve-operating unit 22 ofFIGURE 3. The valve-operating units shown in FIGURES 11 through 11F mayserve as auxiliary valve-operating units in place of the valve-operatingunit 23 of FIGURE 3. Although all of the primary valve-operating unitsshown in FIG- URES 3 and 12 through 12E cannot be used in combinationwith some of the auxiliary valve-operating units 23 through 23g shown inFIGURES 3 and 11 through 11F, the primary valve-operating control units22 through 22 of FIGURES 3 and 12 through 12E may be used in combinationwith certain of the auxiliary valve-operating units 23 through 23g shownin FIGURES 3 and 11 through 11F, as will be later explained. The primaryvalveoperating unit 22 of FIGURE 3 may be used with the auxiliaryvalve-operating units 23c, 23d, 23c of FIG- URES 11B, 11C and 11D, asdesired. It is important to note that all of the valve-operating unitsshown in FIGURES 11 through 11E and 12 through 12F have housings whichare of generally similar configuration to that of the housing 131 ofauxiliary valve-operating unit 23 (FIGURE 3) and all of them have holesarranged therein in the manner of the holes 91' of the auxiliaryvalve-operating unit 23 (FIGURE 8) so that all the valveoperating unitsmay be used interchangeably with each of the valve bodies 20.

The primary and auxiliary valve-operating units 23a, 22a shown inrespective FIGURES 11 and 12 are the same valve-operating units whichare shown in association with the valve body 20 in the illustration ofthe second form of valve assembly shown in FIGURE 9 and will now bedescribed in detail.

The valve-operating units 22a, 23a of FIGURES 9, 11 and 12 are providedfor use in instances in which movement of valve core 25 in bothdirections longitudinally thereof is to be effected manually.Accordingly, the primary valve-operating unit 22a includes a cup-shapedhousing a of substantially the same form as the housing 131 of valveoperating unit 23 (FIGURE 3). Housing 100a is secured to one end of oneof the valve bodies 20 by the screws 102 (FIGURE 9) and has a cavity122a therein within which a pair of washers 124a are positioned, theinnermost of which bears against valve core 25 and which may bearagainst the corresponding washer 30 held against the corresponding endof body 20 by the corresponding housing 100a.

A control knob has a threaded stern 141 integral therewith or suitablyconnected thereto and which is threaded into the corresponding end ofvalve core 25. In order to maintain the knob 140 in spaced relation fromthe washers 124a, a spacing sleeve 142 is provided therebetween whichsurrounds the stem 141 and loosely extends through the wall 143 ofhousing 100a opposite from the valve core 25. The washers 124a may serveto limit the extent of longitudinal movement of valve core 25 andcontrol knob 140, since one of the washers 124a engages the fixed washer30 upon movement of the valve core 25 in one direction and the otherwasher 124a engages the end wall 143 of housing 100a when valve core 25and knob 140 are moved in the opposite direction. Valveoperating unit22a may also be used when any one of the valve-operating units 23, 2317,232, 23 or 23g is mounted on the other end of the corresponding body 20.

The valve-operating unit 23a (FIGURES 3 and 11) is identical to thevalve-operating unit 23 of FIGURE 3 with the exception that thecompression spring therein is omitted, since valve-operating unit 23asimply serves on the elements 127a, 130a and between the washers 127a,'31. Accordingly, those parts of operating unit 23a which are the sameor similar to parts of the valveoperating unit 23 shall bear the samereference characters with the letter a added, to avoid repetitivedescription.

The valve-operating unit 22b of FIGURE 12A, when mounted on one end of avalve body 20, may be used when either of the valve-operating units 23or 23e is mounted on the other end of a valve body 20. Unit 22b includesa housing 100b having a cavity 122b and a washer 12411 therein, whichare similar to the elements 100a, 122a, 124a of valve-operating unit22a. Washer 12% is secured to the corresponding end of valve core 25 bya screw 144. The valve-operating unit 22b is particularly adapted to beoperated by a cam 145 and should be used with an auxiliaryvalve-operating unit capable of yieldably urging the valve core 25 fromleft to right in FIGURE 12A, such as the valve-operating unit 23 (FIGURE3) or 23:? (FIGURE 11D).

The valve-operating unit 22b also includes a hollow or tubular plunger147 whose reduced outer portion is mounted for longitudinal slidingmovement in the end wall 143b of housing 1130b and which has a ball 150loosely mounted therein. The outer end of plunger 147 is restricted at151 to limit outward movement of ball 150. The inner surface of ball 150engages a disk 152 which bears against one end of a compression spring153 within tubular plunger 147. The other end of spring 153 bearsagainst a disk 154, which, in turn, bears against a snap ring 155 fixedin the plunger 147. The inner end of plunger 147 simply bears againstwasher 124b.

It is apparent that the plunger 147 reciprocates in accordance with theconfiguration of the cam 145 and, in the event of a high surface on cam145 tending to move the plunger 147 inwardly beyond the extent to whichit may move when the washer 1241) is positioned against washer 30, theball 150 may then recede relative to the tubular plunger 147. When unit2212 is used with unit 23e, it would only move valve core 25 betweenneutral position and the position establishing communication betweenchambers c, d in valve body 20 in FIGURE 3, as will become apparent inthe description of unit 23e. Unit 22b may be used also with another unitidentical to unit 22b mounted on the opposite end of a valve body 20.

The primary valve-operating unit 22c of FIGURE 12B is provided forfluid-pressure operation of the valve core 25 in one direction and maybe used in combination with the auxiliary valve-operating unit 23 ofFIGURE 3 for returning the valve core 25 to its normal quiescentposition. The valve-operating unit 220 includes a housing 1000 having acavity 1220 therein (FIGURE 12B) within which a piston 124c and anencircling O-ring c are positioned. The piston 1240 bears against andneed not be fixed to or formed integral with valve core 25. Piston 124cmay be identical to the piston 124 of FIGURE 3.

The outer wall 1430 of housing 1000 has an internally threadedpassageway 157 therein for receiving the threaded end of a conduit 160leading from a suitably controlled source of compressed air or otherfluid under pressure. It is apparent that, when pressure is introducedinto chamber or cavity 122c through conduit 160, piston 124a and valvecore 25 are moved from right to left in FIGURE 12B and, when fluidpressure is released from the chamber 1220 through conduit 160, thespring 134 (FIGURE 3), for example, may return valve core 25 to itsoriginal position shown in FIGURE 12B. It is apparent that two of thevalve-operating units 220 may be used on opposite ends of a valve body20, or unit 23a may be used with unit 220.

The primary valve-operating unit 22d of FIGURE 12C also includes ahousing 100d having a cavity or chamber 122d therein through which anextension 161 of valve 12 core 25 loosely extends. The extension 161also loosely extends through the outer wall 143d of housing 122d. Thevalve-operating unit 22d is particularly adapted to be foot-operated andmay be used in combination with an auxiliary valve-operating unit of thetype indicated at 23 (FIGURE 3), 230 (FIGURE 11B), 23d (FIGURE 11C), or23e (FIGURE 11D).

The extension 161 may be suitably secured to or formed integral withvalve core 25 and has a limiting washer 124d fixed thereon which mayserve to limit movement of valve core 25 in the same manner as thatdescribed for the washers 124a of FIGURE 12. The outer end of extension161 has a link 162 pivotally connected thereto, the other end of whichis pivotally connected to a foot pedal 163 pivotally mounted, as at 164,on an arm 165 formed integral with and projecting upwardly and outwardlyat an angle from the housing 100d.

FIGURE 12D shows another form of primary valveoperating unit 22e devisedfor manual operation of the valve core 25 and which may be used with anyone of the units 23, 23a, 23b, 23e, 23f or 23g (FIGURES 3, 11, 11A, 11D,11B and 11F). Valve-operating unit 22e of FIGURE 12D comprises a housing100:: having an outer. wall 143:: defining a cavity or chamber 122atherein within which a washer 124a is positioned. In this instance,washer 124e is held against the corresponding end of valve core 25 by ashifting block 167 whose reduced portion extends through washer 124a andis threaded or otherwise suitably secured to the corresponding end ofvalve core 25.

Shifting block 167 has a vertically extending hole 170 therethrough inwhich the rounded lower end of a manually operable shifting rod or lever171 is positioned. A medial portion of shifting rod 171 extends througha hole 172 formed in a projection 173 on the upper portion of housing100e. Shifting rod 171 is pivotally mounted, as at 174, within the hole172 and has a suitable knob 175 on its upper end adapted to be graspedby an operator for manipulating the shifting rod 171. A suitableresilient boot 176 encircles projection 173 of housing 100e and theshifting rod 171 to prevent dust or other foreign matter from enteringchamber 122e, through hole 172.

The primary valve-operating unit 22 of FIGURE 12B 'is particularlydevised so the valve core 25 normally will be maintained in neutral orclosed position and may be moved from right to left by positive fluidpressure or from left to right by suction. The elements 100], 122 1241251, 143], 157 of unit 22 are substantially'the same as the respectiveelements 1000, 122e, 1240, 125c, 1413c and 157 of the valve-operatingunit 220 in FIGURE 12B.

The outer end portion of chamber 122 of housing 100 is reduced and has asleeve 180 fixed therein which is restricted, as at 181, and withinwhich the flanged outer portion 182 of a cup member 183 has longitudinalsliding movement. Flange 182 normally bears against the restriction 181of sleeve 180 under the influence of a compression spring 184, one endof which bears against the outer wall 143 of housing 100 and the otherend of which bears against the bottom I: of the cup member 183. Theannular bottom h of cup member 183 fits in an annular recess 185 formedin the outer portion of piston 124 One end of a fluid-conveying conduit186 is threadedly secured in the threaded passageway 1571 and the otherend of suction tube or conduit 186 may be connected to a suitablycontrolled source of fluid pressure or suction, not shown.

In its intended use, one of the valve-operating units 22 would bemounted on each end of a valve body 20 and each conduit 186 would beconnected to a means, not shown, for alternatively introducing fluidpressure into and exhausting pressure from each housing 100 Thus, in theabsence of fluid pressure in either conduit 186, valve core 25 wouldoccupy neutral or closed position. Upon fluid pressure then beingintroduced into one of the housings 100 through its conduit 186, thepiston 124 therein would be forced away from the adjacent cup member 183and against washer 30 (or 31). Upon the fluid pressure subsequentlybeing exhausted from the latter housing 100 the spring 184 in the otherof the housings 100 would return valve core 25 to neutral position.

Valve-operating unit 22 also may be used with any one of thvalve-operating units 22, 23c, 23d, or 23a (FIG- URES 3, 11B, 11C and11D). The threaded passageway 1571 may remain open, without pipe 186connected thereto, when units 22 and 22 are combined on opposite ends ofa common valve body 20. The manner of operation of valve-operating unit22 when used with any of the units 22, 23c, 23d or 232 is apparent fromthe foregoing description and will not be repeated here.

It is apparent that, upon the application of suction within the sleeve180 and cup member 183 and if unit 22 is used with a unit 23a or 23e(FIGURES 11 and 11D), the valve core 25 may move from left to right inFIGURE 12E. Such movement of the valve core 25 may be assisted by usingan auxiliary valve-operating unit of the type indicated at 23 in FIGURE3 in combination with the valve-operating unit 22) of FIGURE 12E, ifdesired. Upon releasing negative pressure or suction from conduit 186and chamber 122;, it is apparent that spring 184 will then return valvecore 25 to the position shown in FIG- URE 12E.

The auxiliary valve-operating unit 23b in FIGURE 11A is quite similar tothe valve-operating unit 23 of FIGURE 3 with the exception that it is soarranged as to normally urge the valve core 25 outwardly, rather thaninwardly, with respect to the corresponding end of a valve body 20.Accordingly, the elements of valve-operating unit 2311 corresponding tolike elements of valve-operating unit 23 will bear the same referencechanacters with the letter 5 added, to avoid repetitive description.However, instead of the washer 127b being positioned in engagement withthe washer 31, it will be observed in FIGURE 11A that the washer 127khas a tubular extension 190 which is preferably of substantially thesame diameter as the valve core 25 and which is secured to the valvecore 25 by the screw 130b, Thus, the compression spring 134b ispositioned between and in engagement with the proximal surfaces of thewashers 31 and 1271) so that compression spring 1341) urges the valvecore 25 from right to left in FIGURE 11A while, conversely, the spring134 urges valve core 25 from left to right in FIGURE 3. Unit 23b may beused with unit 22e (FIGURE 12D).

The auxiliaryvalve-operating units 23c, 23d of respective FIGURES 11Band 11C are quite similar to each other with the exception that thepiston of valve-operating unit 23d has a smaller effective surface areathan the piston of valve-operating unit 23c, although both of thehousings thereof may be identical. The housings 1310, 131d and thechambers 1330, 133d of the respective auxiliary valve-operating units23c, 23d may be identical to the housing 131 and the chamber 133 of theauxiliary valve-operating unit 23 shown in FIGURE 3. However, instead ofthe corresponding end of the valve core 25 being provided with a washer,such as is indicated at 127 shown in FIGURE 3, a relatively large'piston127c is positioned against, but need not be, the corresponding end ofvalve core 25 in the valve-operating unit 23c in FIG- URE 11B and arelatively small piston 127d is positioned against, but need not besecured to or formed integral with, the valve core 25 in thevalve-operating unit 23d in FIGURE 11C.

The pistons 1270, 127d are encircled by respective resilient sealingrings or O-rings 191, 191d. The O-ring 191 engages the inner surface ofthe chamber or cavity 133a in FIGURE 11B. However, the O-ring 1910!(FIG- URE 11C) engages the inner surface of a reducing sleeve 192 oflesser length than the depth of cavity 133d and which is positioned insealing engagement with the inner peripheral surface of cavity 133d bymeans of a resilient ring 193.

The upper portions of the housings 131e, 131d are provided withrespective longitudinally extending passages 194, 194d which are sopositioned that they are in alinement with the passage 112 in the valvebody 20 when they are alternatively connected to the corresponding endof a body 20. The outer ends of passages 194, 194d are closed andrespective relatively small passages 195, 195d establish communicationbetween the outer portions of the passages 194, 194d and the outer endsof the respective cavities 1336, 133d of the housings 1310, 131d.

The outer end walls 132e, 132:! of housings 131e, 131d (FIGURES 11B and11C) have respective internally threaded holes 196, 196a therein. Thethreaded hole 196 is shown with one end of a conduit 197 threadedtherein which is adapted to be connected to or is a part of a suitablevalve mechanism, not shown, for selectively exhausting pressure from thechamber 1330. The threaded hole 196d (FIGURE 11C) has a threaded plug197d positioned therein.

In instances in which the valve-operating unit 23c (FIG- URE 11B) is tobe used, two of them are used, one of them being secured to each end ofa valve body 20. Thus, assuming that one of the valve-operating units230 is connected to each end of the valve body 20 in FIGURE 3 in placeof the valve-operating units 22, 23, as long as pressure is preventedfrom escaping from the two chambers 133e, equal pressure is maintainedin each chamber 133s between the pistons 127a and the outer walls 132aof the housings 131e, since pressure is conveyed from chamber e of thevalve body 20 through passageway 114 and channel 112 (FIGURE 3) throughthe passages 194, 195 into the respective chambers 133a in the two units236.

It follows that, upon pressure being released from either of thechambers 133a, through its conduit 197, and not being released from theother of the chambers 1330, the pressure in said other chamber 1330 willmove the corresponding piston 1270 and the valve core 25 toward thatchamber 1330 from which pressure is being released. Thus, it is apparentthat the valve core 25 may be moved in either direction, depending uponwhich of the two chambers 1330 has pressure released therefrom.

The valve-operating unit 23a is particularly adapted to be used incombination with the primary valve-operating unit 22 of FIGURE 3. Inthis instance, since the surface area of piston 191d (FIGURE 11C) issubstantially less than that of piston 124 (FIGURE 3), it follows thatthe introduction of pressure into the chamber 122, in the mannerheretofore described, causes the valve core 25 to move from right toleft in FIGURE 3. However, upon deenergization of coil 103, and thereturn movement of solenoid plunger 107 to where it closes valve 110,fluid pressure from chamber e of valve body 20 will be transmittedthrough passages 114, 112, 194d, 195d into chamber 133d ofvalve-operating unit 23d and will thus return valve core 25 to theposition of FIGURE 3. When valve is opened and valve 106 is closed(FIGURE 3), by energization of the coil 103, even though the same amountof pressure will be present in both of the chambers 133d and 122(FIGURES 11C and FIGURE 3, respectively), the larger surface area ofpiston 124 as compared to that of piston 127a will cause the valve core25 to move from right to left in FIGURE 3.

The valve-operating unit 23 of FIGURE 11D is provided for normallyyieldably maintaining the valve core 25 in a neutral position in whichthe larger portions of valve core 25 prevent communiction between any ofthe chambers c-g of valve body 20. However, the valve core 25 can thenbe moved in one or both directions from the neutral position eithermechanically or manually, such as by means of any one of thevalve-operating units 22 through 22f shown in FIGURES 3 and 12 through12E, for example.

To this end, it will be observed in FIGURE 11D that the cavity orchamber 133e of housing 131:? of auxiliary valve-operating unit 23c hasa pair of flanged cup-like spring seats 200, 201 therein whose flangesare engaged by opposed ends of a compression spring 203. The proximalend portions or bottoms of the spring seats 200, 201 are slidablypenetrated by a plunger 204 having suitable abutments 205, 206 thereonwhich engage the distal surfaces of the bottoms of the cup-like springseats 200, 201. The inner end of plunger 204 is secured to thecorresponding outer end of valve core by means of a screw 207.

It is apparent that, when force is applied to the valve core 25 tendingto move the same from right to left in FIGURE 11D, spring 203 iscompressed as spring seat 200 moves from right to left therewith sothat, upon such force being removed from valve core 25, valve core 25will return to the position in which it is shown in FIGURE 11D.Conversely, when force is applied to valve core 25 from left to right inFIGURE 11D, spring seat 201 will move from left to right with valve core25 and will thus return the valve core 25 to its neutral position shownin FIGURE 11D when the latter force is removed from valve core 25.

The valve-operating units 231, 23g shown in FIGURES 11E and 11F areprovided for yieldably looking a valve core 25 in different positions towhich it may be moved by the knob 140 or control lever 171 of therespective valve-operating units 22a, 22a of FIGURES l2 and 12D, forexample. Valve-operating units 23], 23g include respective housings 131131g which are substantially the same as or identical to housing 131 ofvalve-operating unit 23 (FIGURE 3), and which have respective chambersor cavities 133 133g therein within which respective peripherallygrooved sleeves 210, 210g are positioned.

Sleeves 210, 210g are of substantially the same length as the depth ofthe corresponding cavities 1332f, 133g so the sleeves 210, 210;; arelocked against axial movement in the cavities 133 133g. Medial portionsof the sleeves 210, 210g have respective annular grooves 209, 209gtherein within which respective resilient O-rings 211, 211g arepositioned. The sleeves 210, 210g also have respective radiallyextending chambers or holes 212, 212g therein within which respectivedetents or balls 213, 213g are loosely positioned. Theholes 212, 212gare preferably tapered inwardly so that they are of smaller diameter atthe inner walls of the sleeves 210, 210g than they are at the outersurfaces of the sleeves, and the balls 213, 213g are of slightly largerdiameter than the smallest diameter of the holes 212, 212g so that theycannot pass entirely through the holes 212, 212g. The O-rings 211, 211gbear against the outer surface of and normally yieldably urge therespective balls 213, 213g inwardly.

In FIGURE 11E, the valve core 25 has a plunger 215 fixed thereon, as bya screw 216. The plunger 215 is of slightly greater diameter than thevalve core 25 and is slidably movable within the corersponding sleeve210. Opposed ends of plunger 215 are beveled at 217, 218 and the beveledsurfaces 217, 218 are so spaced that, when valve core 25 occupies itsextreme left-hand position as shown in FIGURE 1113, the outer end ofplunger 215 bears against the outer wall 132 of housing 131 and isretained in this position by the detent or ball 213.

On the other hand, upon sufficient pressure being applied to the valvecore 25 from left to right to FIGURE 11E, ball 213 is forced into thehole 212 and subsequently drops against the beveled surface 218 tomaintain the valve core 25 in the other of its two positions. It isapparent that, upon the application of sutficient force to valve core 25from right to left in FIGURE 11E, ball 213 will again recede into thehole 212 until the beveled surface 2117 again moves into engagementtherewith.

The left-hand end of the valve core 25 in FIGURE 11F also has a plunger215g fixed thereto by a screw 216g and which is also provided withbeveled surfaces 217g, 218g on opposite ends thereof. The plunger 215gmay be identical to plunger 215 with the exception that it is providedwith an annular groove 221 in the periphery thereof which is preferablysubstantially centrally located between the two beleved surfaces 217g,213g.

The valve-operating unit 23g is operated in exactly the same manner asthat described for the valve-operating unit 23 with the exception thatthe annular groove 221 in plunger 215g serves to yieldably lock thevalve core 25 in an intermediate position. By referring to FIGURE 3, itis apparent that when the valve core 25 occupies intermediate position,this blocks communication between any of the adjacent chambers c-g.

It is thus seen that we have provided an improved valve constructionwhich is adapted to interchangeably accom- -rnodate many different typesof valve-operating mechanisms and wherein the valve bodies 20, bases 21,21a and gaskets 36 may be assembled interchangeably without regard forwhich direction either end of the valve body 20 may be facing withrespect to the ends of the valve bases 21, 21a due to the symmetricalarrangement of the various ports, passages and passageways, through orin the valve bodies 20, the gaskets 36 and the bases 21, 21a and alsodue to the symmetrical arrangement of the fastener-receiving holes inthe valve bodies 20, the gaskets 36, the bases 21, 21a and in thevarious housings of the valveoperating units, thus greatly facilitatingthe commercial production and use of valve assemblies according to thisinvention.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferredembodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

We claim:

1. In a slide type valve assembly, an elongate base having a flat uppersurface, said base having a transverse supply port and a pair oftransverse exhaust ports straddling and being equally spaced from saidsupply port, said supply por-t being located halfway between opposedends of said base, all of said ports being spaced the same distancebelow said upper surface, said base also having a pair of substantiallyvertically extending service passageways therethrough straddling andequally spaced from said supply port, said base also having a separatebase passageway extending downwardly from said flat upper surface toeach exhaust port and said supply port, the upper ends of saidpassageways being located symmetrically with respect to a longitudinalline halfway between laterally opposed sides of said base and withrespect to a transverse line halfway between opposed ends of said base,an elongate valve body having a longitudinal bore therethrough, anaxially movable spool valve core in said bore, means dividing said boreinto five chambers, said body having a flat lower surface and a separatesecond passageway extending downwardly from each chamber and opening atthe lower surface of said body, said second passageways being spaced thesame distance from each other as said base passgeways and said servicepassageways so as to register with corresponding base passageways andservice passageways, means removably securing said body to said basewith the flat surface of said body facing the flat surface of andextending parallel with said base, the centermost of said secondpassageways being located halfway between longitudinally opposed ends ofsaid body, and all of said second passageways being locatedsymmetrically with respect to a longitudinal line halfway betweenlaterally opposed sides of said body.

2. In a slide type valve assembly, an elongate base having a flat uppersurface, said base having a transverse supply port in one side thereofand a pair of transverse exhaust ports in said one side straddling andbeing equally spaced from said supply port, said supply port beinglocated halfway between opposed ends of said base, said base also havinga pair of transverse service ports in the other side thereof straddlingand being equally spaced from said supply port, said base also having aseparate base passageway extending downwardly from said flat uppersurface to and communicating with each port, the upper ends of said basepassageways being located symmetrically with respect to a longitudinalline halfway between laterally opposed sides of said base, an elongatevalve body having a longitudinal bore therethrough, an axially movablespool valve core in said bore, means dividing bore into five chambers,said body having afiat lower surface and a separate second passagewayextending downwardly from each chamber and opening at the lower surfaceof said body, said second passageways being spaced the same distancefrom each other as said base passageways so as to register with saidbase passageways, means removably securing said body to said base withthe flat surface of said body facing the flat surface of and extendingparallel with said base, the centermost of said second passageways beinglocated halfway between longitudinally opposed ends of said body, andall of said second passageways being symmetrically arranged with respectto a longitudinal line halfway between laterally opposed sides of saidbody.

3. In a slide type valve assembly, a plurality of similar elongate baseseach having a flat upper surface, each base having a transverse supplyport and a pair of transverse exhaust ports straddling and being equallyspaced from said supply port, each supply port being located halfwaybetween opposed ends of each base, all of said ports being located thesame distance below said flat upper surface, each base also having apair of substantially vertically extending service passagewaystherethrough straddling and equally spaced from the respective supplyport, each base also having a separate base passageway extendingdownwardly from its fiat upper surface to each respective exhaust portand the supply port, the upper ends of said passageways in each basebeing located symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal line halfwaybetween laterally opposed sides of the respective base and with respectto a transverse line halfway between longitudinally opposed ends of saidbase, an elongate valve body for each base having a longitudinal boretherethrough, an axially movable spool valve core in each bore, meansdividing each bore into five chambers, each body having a flat lowersurface and a separate second passageway extending downwardly from eachchamber and opening at the lower surface of the respective body, saidsecond passageways of each body being spaced the same distance from eachother as the upper ends of said passageways in each base so as toregister with corresponding base passageways and service passageways ofany one of said bases, means removably securing each body to acorresponding base with the flat surface of each body facing the flatsurface of and extending parallel with the corresponding base, thecentermost of said second passageways being located halfway betweenlongitudinally opposed ends of each body, all of said second passagewaysof each body being located symmetrically with respect to a longitudinalline halfway between laterally opposed sides of the respective body,said bodies each being of no greater transverse width than therespective bases, and means securing said bases together in juxtaposedside-by-side relation with the transverse ports of each base alined withrespective transverse ports of the adjacent base or bases.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,295,111 9/42Hemmings 251367 X 2,486,087 10/49 Wright 137596.13 2,586,906 2/52Beckett et al 137625,65 2,651,324 9/53 Hodgson et a1. 137-596.122,679,241 5/54 Dickson.

2,834,368 5/58 Gray 137-271 2,869,567 1/59 Carlson i 137-59613 X2,955,617 10/60 Collins 137-62564 3,000,397 9/61 Schmiel 137-596133,060,970 10/62 Aslan 137-62569 3,076,477 2/ 63 Brandenberg 137625.63,111,139 11/63 Beckett et al 25l367 X 3,152,614 10/64 Carls 137-625.69

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner. HENRY T. KLINKSIEK, Examiner.

1. IN A SLIDE TYPE VALVE ASSEMBLY, AN ELONGATE BASE HAVING A FLAT UPPERSURFACE, SAID BASE HAVING A TRANSVERSE SUPPLY PORT AND A PAIR OFTRANSVERSE EXHAUST PORTS STRADDLING AND BEING EQUALLY SPACED FROM SAIDSUPPLY PORT, SAID SUPPLY PORT BEING LOCATED HALFWAY BETWEEN OPPOSED ENDSOF SAID BASE, ALL OF SAID PORTS BEING SPACED THE SAME DISTANCE BELOWSAID UPPER SURFACE, SAID BASE ALSO HAVING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLYVERTICALLY EXTENDING SERVICE PASSAGEWAYS THERETHROUGH STRADDLING ANDEQUALLY SPACED FROM SAID SUPPLY PORT, SAID BASE ALSO HAVING A SEPARATEBASE PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID FLAT UPPER SURFACE TOEACH EXHAUST PORT AND SAID SUPPLY PORT, THE UPPER ENDS OF SAIDPASSAGEWAYS BEING LOCATED SYMMETRICALLY WITH RESPECT TO A LONGITUDINALLINE HALFWAY BETWEEN LATERALLY OPPOSED SIDES OF SAID BASE AND WITHRESPECT TO A TRANSVERSE LINE HALFWAY BETWEEN OPPOSED ENDS OF SAID BASE,AN ELONGATE VALVE BODY HAVING A LONGITUDINAL BORE THERETHROUGH, ANAXIALLY MOVABLE SPOOL VALVE CORE IN SAID BORE, MEANS DIVIDING SAID BOREINTO FIVE CHAMBERS, SAID BODY HAVING A FLAT LOWER SURFACE AND A SEPARATESECOND PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM EACH CHAMBER AND OPENING ATTHE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID BODY, SAID SECOND PASSAGEWAYS BEING SPACED THESAME DISTANCE FROM EACH OTHER AS SAID BASE PASSAGEWAYS AND SAID SERVICEPASSAGEWAYS SO AS TO REGISTER WITH CORRESPONDING BASE PASSAGEWAYS ANDSERVICE PASSAGEWAYS, MEANS REMOVABLY SECURING SAID BODY TO SAID BASEWITH THE FLAT SURFACE OF SAID BODY FACING THE FLAT SURFACE OF ANDEXTENDING PARALLEL WITH SAID BASE, THE CENTERMOST OF SAID SECONDPASSAGEWAYS BEING LOCATED HALFWAY BETWEEN LONGITUDINALLY OPPOSED ENDS OFSAID BODY, AND ALL OF SAID SECOND PASSAGEWAYS BEING LOCATEDSYMMETRICALLY WITH RESPECT TO A LONGITUDINAL LINE HALFWAY BETWEENLATERALLY OPPOSED SIDES OF SAID BODY.